CORBEVAX

CONTEXT:

Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm Biological E. has received the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for initiating the Phase II/III study to evaluate its CORBEVAX vaccine in children aged above 5 years.

IMPORTANT POINTERS:

• Supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Biological E. has developed CORBEVAX, a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine for coronavirus disease.
• The DBT and its PSU, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have supported Biological E.’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate from pre-clinical stage to Phase III clinical studies.
• In addition to receiving financial assistance under Mission COVID Suraksha, this vaccine candidate has also obtained a financial support under COVID-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission, BIRAC.

About Corbevax

• Corbevax unlike other vaccines is a “recombinant protein sub-unit”. The protein unit used here is SARS-CoV-2- that spike protein coronavirus surface that binds with cells and multiples to cause Covid-19. When the spike protein binds with the cell the virus gets unrestricted entry to the body, but the vaccine contains only the protein unit without the virus and hence cannot cause any harm to the body.
• Soon the body reacts to the foreign spike protein and starts preparing an immune response. Hence when the real Covid-19 virus affects the body the immune response that can counter the effect of the spike protein comes to function making the person less vulnerable to the infection.
• This process of vaccine development was earlier explored and utilized for Hepatitis B vaccines but it is the first time that is being explored for the Covid-19 vaccine. Another vaccine manufacturer Novavax has also developed a protein-based vaccine but awaits go-ahead for emergency use authorization from drug regulators.
• Like other vaccines, even Corbevax required two doses for maximum effectiveness but it can be manufactured in a low-cost platform and is expected to the cheapest available drug in the country.

Sources

• The Hindu
• Financial Express
• The Indian Express